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A Wrinkle in Time at Bundaberg

admin Art, Authors, Books, Creativity, Other Worlds 0 Comment

A Wrinkle in Time 1Bundabergians wrinkled in style when they gathered at BRAG (our local regional arts gallery) on Wednesday night to discover how multimedia developer & artist Neil Jenkins created an online-based installation that paid homage to Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 children’s sci fi classic, A Wrinkle in Time.A Wrinkle in Time

The gallery was transformed into a cosy lounge room and the fascinating Mr Jenkins told how he was inspired by early computers at a young age, which has ultimately led to a lifetime working with them, in both commercial and art spheres. Mr Jenkins’ installation is on display in BRAG’s The Vault and features text from the novel, captured against a dark and stormy background.

I first read A Wrinkle in Time when I was a young 12-year-old and, although I had forgotten the characters, I’d never forgotten this book’s magic, including Mrs Whosit’s endearing voice and the many concepts (at the top of the list: Tesseract wormholes and the fascinating new dimension of time) it embedded in my mind.

Cheryse Durrant, Neil Jenkins and Kallee BuchananLEFT: Here I am with artist Neil Jenkins and my old friend Kallee Buchanan (right) on the night. I wore a witch’s hat to pay tribute to one of the book’s characters, Mrs Which (Yes, that’s how her name is spelt!).

A Wrinkle in Time was the first of the Literary Notions series, spearheaded by exhibitions officer Trudie Leigo, which brings together some of Australia’s premiere contemporary installation artists, inspired by literature. In conjunction with the series, Bundy residents are able to read the associated work of literature that inspired each artist’s installation.

Upcoming Literary Notions events, running on a Wednesday night from 5.30pm unliterary notionstil 7pm,  include:

  • March 5: The Day of the Triffids & Alison McDonald
  • May 14: Long  Long Way & Fintan Magee
  • June 25: When The Rain Stops Falling & Hossein Valamanesh
  • August 20: Confessions of  Zeno & William Kentridge
  • October 20: Brothers Grimm fairytale (TBC) & Simone Eisler

For more information or to get involved, visit the Bundaberg Regional Arts Gallery (BRAG) in Barolin Street or telephone 4130 4750.

You can find out more about Mr Jenkins’ artwork HERE.

Celebrate the Small Things… and the Big Things!

admin Authors, The Blood She Betrayed, Uncategorized, Urban Fantasy 16 Comments

A sold-out first print run and discovering that The Blood She Betrayed has been shortlisted in the top ten books in the Australian Romance Readers Awards (spec fic category) … What a terrific start to 2014!

Those who subscribe to my website know my blogs have been scrappy during the past few months while I was on my physical author tour. If you haven’t been following me on Facebook, I will post more photos from the  tour in the cSmall News Articles Photo 1oming weeks but I wanted to start 2014 with the Celebrate the Small Things blog hop, thanks to fellow fantasy author TF Walsh.

2013 was the year of my debut novel so almost every week was a celebration for me as I experienced many new “firsts” for my novel – first edits, first draft cover, first book launch, first radio interview, first fan mail. Many of these moments may have seemed small but, for me, they were BIG moments of delight.

Now, as I batten down the hatches for another chaos-filled literary year – my second as a published author – I am comforted by the many things I am grateful for:

  1. A fabulous clan of loving and supportive friends and family (including one slightly crumpled husband and one slightly jealous cat) who have always celebrated my achievements with me, but also been there to lend me a shoulder to cry on during the tough times
  2. An imagination that helps colour my days and create vivid plots and characters – I’m working on The Ghost She Killed (Heart Hunters Book II) this week
  3. A debut novel that has gained fabulous reviews, sold out on its first print run (the warehouse is empty) and attracted a surprise shortlisting in a national reading award – and was also nominated for the Aurealis
  4. Peers and mentors whom I greatly respect who generously give of their time so that I may grow. Thank you. Always.
  5. The magic of seeing youngsters and newbies toss off their training wheels and set sail on their own glorious adventures of a lifetime.
  6. An amazing world of beauty, entertainment and creativity that I can enjoy when I am tired or sad – or just to celebrate living
  7. A room to call my own – my combined bedroom/office – where I can write wonderful stories at my desk without the disruptions of living out of suitcases and laptop bags, as was the status during my author tour. I am back home and I am happy. #Bliss

What are you Celebrate the small thingscelebrating this week?

This post is part of VikLit‘s blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you’re grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.

To read fellow author TF Walsh’s Celebrate the Small Things blog, go here. While you’re at it, check out her mesmerising debut novel, Cloaked in Fur.

Blood She Betrayed reviews burn Bright

admin Authors, Books, Reviews, Shahkara, The Blood She Betrayed, Urban Fantasy 0 Comment

My author tour and catching up and staying with friends in areas of unreliable internet access has resulted in a long delay in posting recent blogs… BUT I just had to share with you my latest reviews. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Marianne de Pierres’ Night Creatures trilogy. If you haven’t read Burnt Bright (book one in this evocative series), then click over to Amazon or sprint to your nearest bookstore/library for a copy!

So it filled me with delight this morning to read an awesome review of my book from the gorgeous Belinda, whom I met at SupaNova in Brisbane last month. Bel is a delightful lady and has read my book and written her review HERE. Thanks, Bel, for your lovely review.

As an extra bonus, Escape Club staffer Bec Stafford has interviewed me, “the newly minted author”, and you can read our Q&A HERE.

Finally, for a tasty bite of The Blood She Betrayed, do visit Damyanti’s Amlokiblogs for an extract of Chapter 2 of The Blood She Betrayed. Of course I want to meet a warrior princess, especially if it’s Shahkara!